When We Leave

Umay is of Turkish descent, born in Germany, and she takes her small son Cem and runs from a violent marriage in Istanbul. She goes to her family in Berlin. They do not welcome her at the door: her arrival counts as shame and she is expected to go back. The more she refuses, the tighter the circle closes, and the pressure does not stay verbal. Written and directed by Feo Aladag, the film does not run honour-based pressure through a single villain. The father, the siblings, the mother; each of them loves Umay up to a point, and past that point defers to what the community has decided. That is the hardest thing in it: nobody is a monster and the outcome is still lethal. Sibel Kekilli plays Umay and won Best Actress at the German Film Awards, where the film also took the bronze award for Best Film out of seven nominations. It was Germany's submission to the 83rd Academy Awards, and won the top prize at Tribeca and the European Parliament's LUX Prize. Who it's for: Viewers interested in drama about migration, family and honour-based pressure, and in where German and Turkish cinema meet. Who it's not for: The violence is direct and the ending is heavy. How the film represents a Turkish family has also been argued over.